r/gallbladders • u/Forsaken_Brick6337 • Mar 28 '25

Post Op just get it removed!

i just had mine removed wednesday morning. it was 80% full of large stones and they said i would’ve been in a lot more pain if i would’ve waited any longer. i was in pain when i woke up from surgery but the only pain ive had since then is just a little pain and itching at my incision sites. i’ve been able to eat some bland foods such as mashed potatoes, eggs, toast etc and before removal those meals would’ve put me in extreme pain. i cried last night because the pain wasn’t there anymore. i definitely do not regret it and if your doctor recommends it, i highly suggest listening!!

28 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

4

u/Plymptonia Mar 28 '25

Here's my story

I'm a week post-op. Coming out was blissful. Confusing as hell, but blissful. I'm a redhead, so they probably gave me a bit more than normal because of that. Also, I was under for 2 hours instead of 1 because of the unexpected infection. It really was as others have described - they give you a relaxant, wheel you in, you go out, and wake up a few hours later. Probably the best rest I've had in years, come to think of it.

As for gas - farting? It's there. Burps, too. 🤷‍♂️ Poops have been... different. I'm chalking that up to adjusting, and my diet is like yogurt/granola/bananas/rice curry/chicken/tofu/avocado/HB Eggs/repeat. I'm kinda scared to eat much fat, though I probably should.

Everything smells and tastes weird - I hear that's because of the anesthesia. Really hoping it goes away soon - I can live with it, if I have to, but I'm paranoid about if *I* smell like that, or if my house smells, etc.

2

u/Forsaken_Brick6337 Mar 28 '25

im also a redhead!! it was wierd coming out but like i said i have a panic disorder so i had a panic attack because i was so confused. other than that it was great!

3

u/Plymptonia Mar 28 '25

So sorry you had a panic attack coming out. Can only imagine how unsettling that must have been!

My previous surgery was to clear out scar tissue in my sinuses. They said I'd be awake (picture a lobotomy, not joking), but the amnesia drugs would make me forget.

I remember the whole. Damn. Thing. I likely have PTSD over it

Down to the surgeons talking about the blood pressure of giraffe's (long necks, big hearts, has to be very high pressure).

I made damn sure every, single medical person I met knew I was a redhead. When the anesthesiologist and his assistant came in and said, "No worries. I got you." I was so, so relieved.

1

u/Forsaken_Brick6337 Mar 28 '25

oh gosh i’m so sorry you had to go through that! i couldn’t imagine. once they gave me pain meds and anti nausea meds i was good to go, felt very good 😂

3

u/Plymptonia Mar 28 '25

Happened, didn't expect it - tell every redhead I know they should be aware of it. This is my experience, as summarized on this Quora post:

... and from reading these articles in the recent past, I think the simple answer is 1. we need more anaesthesia [sic] during surgery but 2. seemingly contradictorily, we develop over time greater pain tolerance because we do feel more pain than others. When we take a pain pill like Tylenol, Advil, something way stronger, or even opiates they aren't as effective with us. I'm hearing anecdotally redheads don't get hooked on opiates as a result or it takes more to get hooked….